Editor’s note: this story has been updated.
By Kim McDarison
The Fort Atkinson Fire Department responded Friday to a report of an odor of gas detected in a parking lot at the Fort Atkinson High School.
Fort Atkinson Fire Department Division Chief Tom Gerondale said the department received a call just after 7:30 a.m. alerting it that an odor of natural gas had been detected at the high school near the exterior of the building.
“Upon arrival and investigation, it was determined that it was a gas leak originating in the greenhouse area,” Gerondale said, adding that a further determination was made that the leak was coming from a furnace in the area that was malfunctioning.
Some 15 firefighters were dispatched to the scene, Gerondale said, and members of the department remained on scene for approximately 45 minutes.
During that time, he said, firefighters conduced a walk-through of the area and determined the natural gas causing the odor was coming from the greenhouse area.
Firefighters at the scene turned off the gas and electricity feeds supplying the heater in the greenhouse area, ventilated the area and contacted We Energies, Gerondale confirmed.
Additionally, he said, the high school’s maintenance buildings and grounds division was notified and its representatives made assurances that the heater would be properly repaired, Gerondale reported.
Gerondale said that due to the isolated nature of the incident and the amount of gas involved, the school building did not require evacuation.
School District of Fort Atkinson Communications and Community Engagement Specialist Marissa Weidenfeller, sharing information through email with Fort Atkinson Online Friday afternoon, noted that an odor of natural gas was reported to school district administration by school district staff as they arrived to work around 7:20 a.m.
When first responders — including members of the Fort Atkinson Fire Department and the Fort Atkinson Police Department — arrived, she stated, the inside of the high school was toured to make sure the odor was occurring only on the outside of the building.
EMS officials determined there was no need to evacuate the building, Weidenfeller wrote.
Further, she wrote, “since the smell was detected outside only and the responders arrived on the scene and located the source and fixed it so quickly, no other precautions were necessary inside.
“Students were directed to park in different parking lots to avoid the outdoor area.”
At about 9:30 a.m., Weidenfeller reported, the last members of the fire department and We Energies crews left the scene.
Weidenfeller noted that the malfunctioning furnace from which the odor was emanating is located inside a greenhouse that is attached to the high school building, but also separated by exterior brick walls and outdoor-quality doors.
At present, she noted Friday afternoon, “the situation is remedied and being monitored in case of any further issues.”
Citing district policy, Weidenfeller noted: “The School District of Fort Atkinson has an extensive emergency response plan in place. Today was a great example of the plan in action. Evacuation protocols were ready to be initiated should they have been needed. However, due to the quick response of the Fort Atkinson Police and Fire Department, no additional measures were necessary.
“Please know, when information is available to be shared with students, staff, and families it will be shared in a timely manner. Given the events this morning, due to the short amount of time of the incident, communication was sent as soon as possible.”
An internal communication to staff was sent at 8:10 a.m., and a communication was sent to students and families at 8:27 a.m., Weidenfeller stated.
This story has been updated to include comments from the School District of Fort Atkinson’s communications and community engagement specialist.
Fort Atkinson Fire Department, file photo/Chris Spangler.
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